Pseudojuloides edwardi: a spectacular new wrasse species is named after a fellow aquarist

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Pseudojuloides edwardi is a new species of slender pencil wrasse from Mombasa Kenya which was actually discovered in a fish store, long time friend of the Reef Builders team, Greenwhich Aquaria. The new species is named in honor of one of the most diehard aquarium fish hobbyists we know, Jason Edward, who first recognized that his Pseudojuloides specimens were something new and unknown.

Jason should be mighty proud of the exquisite species he has helped bring to light. Pseudojuloides edwardi is closely related to P. severnsi, in fact it is genetically indistinguishable from it! This new fish appears to be a case of male coloration evolving ahead of the DNA and Benjamin Victor and John Randall who named the species, described P. edwardi as “evolution in action”.

The closely related Pseudojuloides severnsi

The color motif of Pseudojuloides edwardi and P. severnsi might be similar, both species are tapered in their profile with a base green coloration that is bisected by a few electric blue lines. But there is no mistaking the striking pink and yellow mask that envelops the face and belly of the stupendous male specimens of Pseudojuloides edwardi that Jason has sourced and provided so far.

You may not know Jason Edward like we do, and its easy to think that it was a fluke chance that some guy in Connecticut got lucky by finding this fish but we assure you that this discovery is much deserved. Jason has an insatiable appetite for new, rare and obscure reef fish species and really goes out of his way to turn book fish into “real life” fish.

Our deepest congratulations go to Jason Edward, one of our own, a hobbyist after our own heart, who not only first noticed this new species for what it is, but also graciously donated all two specimens to science to be described. We wish Jason the best of luck in sourcing some more individuals of Pseudojuloides edwardi so that he can enjoy his namesake slender wrasse in his own fantastically diverse display reef tank. [OSF]